Connection-box for electric conduits.



J. B. GRAYB ILL. CONNECTION BOX .IOR ELECTRIC GONDUITS. APPLIOATION rum) JULY 29, 1908.

988,46 1 Patented Apr. 4; 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

16 amok V001:

J. B. GRAYBILL. CONNECTION BOX FOR ELECTRIC CONDUITS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 29, 1908. 988,461

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JOHN E. GBAYBILL, or YORK, PnNNsYLvANia."

CONNECTION-BOX FO It ELECTRIC ClOitTDUI'lS. i

; To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN E. GRAYBILL, a citlzen oi the United States, and resident of Y01k,'111 the county of York and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Connection- Boxes' for Electric Conduits, of which the I following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in boxes for inclosing electric wire conduits. Itis particularly applicable to the terminals of such conduit-s but it may also be applied to connection or junction boxes interposed points along the length of the conduit. Its object is to simplify the construction of such boxes. and to provide means by which -box shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe top section of the box shown in Fig. 1, looking from the bottom; Fig. 4 is a; plan View of the bottom section of the box; Fig.

, 5 i s' a side view of the top section; Fig. 6 is an end view of the section shown in Fig. 5, looking from the right side of that figure;

Fig. 7 is a cross section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a plan view of another form of terminal box having two outlets for the electric wires, and the top section being removed; Fig. 9 is an inverted plan view-of the top section to be used in the form shown in Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a side view of the top section shown in Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a cross '55 I which fits on the bottom section and makes "section onthe. line 11- l1 of Fig. 8, showing the top section in placepFig. 12 is a plan view of the bottom section of a terminalbox adapted to receive the switch, re-

ceptacle or other lighting fixture; Fig. 13

is a cross section on the line 13 -13 of Fig.

12, showing the top of the box in place; Fig. 14: is a cross section of a modified form of terminal bo'x showing the inlet for the conduit and the outlet for. the wires at an acute angle to each other; Fig." 15 is a plan view of the bottom section of the box shown in Fig. 14; and Fig. '16 is a plan view of the top section of the'box shown in Fig. 14.

,, Referring to Figs. 1 to 7 ofthe drawing, 1

desi nates the bottomsectioh of the-ter- 1 miniil box, and 2 designates the top-section Specification of Letters Patent. Patente i 4' 1119101 Application filed July 29,1908. Serial No. 445. I

up the box which inc conduit. In this fO1Y111"-.tl1Gb:()X ,isf ma-de tubular. having the top part flattened-and the said top part being!-provided-with..an

opening 3 carrying a screw-threaded plug/1;

as the outlet for the-electrigcii',wines; Tllhe electric conduit enters. the box through the substantially cylindrical end 5 which is; 11130 vided with an interior flange .6 a short distance from the end. Itfiwill be observed,

that this end or sleeve is divided longitudinally by the line of division betweenthe upper and lower sections ofthe box and that the outer surface of the sleeve is elliptical in cross section. The outerend' of this sleeve isprovided with rellipti call lugs or flanges 7, thus making-a groove between these flanges and the shoulders 8 and than the sections. A ring 10 havingan elliptical opening of sufficient size to pass overthe end 5 and its flanges 7 is placed in the groove formed on the end?) anddby. turning it the short diameter ofztheringmakfls contact with the long diameter offtlie end 5- and thus clamps the-two sections together. The bottom section 1 is provided attire-top of its closed end with.a lug or flange 11, under which fits the lug 12.atthe end of the top section 2, so that when the pants are placed together it will beiimpossible fonthetop section to move vertica ly; The -division line between the top and bottom sections is made upon acurve at theclosed end, as is clearl shown in Fig. This division line extems longitudinally of theboxandin the form shown in Figs.= 1 to 6 is provided with the inclinedsurt'aces 13,14

which make contact and which because of their inclination tend to force the-sections longitudinally of each other. so HS'tQ bringthe lugs 11 and 12 into close contact when the two sections are clamped together. Thelongitudinal meetingedgesof thesectionsare.

provided with vertical flanges 15, lfiwhich fit together and prevent any 'lateral 1novement of the parts and 'make a;closejoint between the parts. a 1

The modified form of terminal box shown .in Figs. 8 to ll has thewsame general vfeatures of construction as that described above and differs therefrom' principally the form of the box. In this instanceythere. is a single inlet 17 for the electric wire conduit and there are two outlets 18,19 for-the electrio wires, the box beingextended-laterally instead of being made in tubular form. The

' 20, 21, and also have the coiiperatinglugs .2. BEST AILABLE CQPY 988,461

two sections have the longitudinal division ll I18 with the vertical coeperating flanges 22," 23. The end flanges 7 and the locking ring 10 are made in the same way and operate in the same way as in the form shown in Fig. 1. In this particular form there are no inclined portions of the meeting-edges tending to force the locking lugs into'con-' tact, as disclosed inFig. 1, but this is not necessary since the curvature of the flanges 2O accomplish the same result. In fact the v inclined portions 13, 14 arenot absolutely necessary in the form shown in Fig.1 since the locking ring coiiperating with the lugs 7 would hold the parts in proper position.

, flange 27 on the lower section'28. The longitudinal meeting'edges in this form of the. 30

" -.I11 F igs. 12 and'13 I'have shown the invention applied to a terminal box adapted to. carry a. switch, receptacleor other lighting fixture, the box-itself being shown as circular in outline and having the inlet 5 for the electric wire conduit.

the ordinary porcelain member of a switch or receptacle, and thistop-s'ection is provided with a flange 26 at the end opposite the inlet, which flange engages a corresponding evice are; made with notches '29 which j serve to center the device and to hold the flanges 26, 27 in close engagement when the parts are "clamped together by the ring 5 10.

-' In this form also the meeting edges are prefand have they clamping ,ring 10 at the gpen erably provided with vertical centering .flanges30. v

' In Figs. 14to 16 I have shown a modified terminal box. in which the inlet and the .out-

let are at an acute angle. In this form, as .in the others,the top and bottomsections are divided upon :longitudin'al lines, havetheengaging lugs 31, 32 at the closedend,

end. The meeting edges are also provide with Verticahflanges 33 which coopeiate-to' center the parts and which in this instance are shown as terminating at 3e, short of the open end, whereby. relative longitudinalmovement of the sections is prevented when they are in close contact.

It will be observed from clamping ring 10 is madeof irregular form on its exterior and the purpose of this is "to'provide means whereby the ring itself will indicate to-the observer whether ornot it has been turned'to the clamping position.

When the observer sees the ring ll'llllBPOSli tion shown in Fig. 2 he will know that the parts of the box are'securely clamped together whereas if the flat side of the ring were on top he would know that" the parts were not clamped. It isot course obvious that other indicating means might be used on the ring to show when it is in clamped position. such as a mark placed thereon at a The top section 24: is provided with an opening 25 to receive Fig. 2 that the particular point. The advantage of this is that the inspector mayby a mere glance see whether the parts are properly adjusted. I

It will be observed that in all of the forms? of the invention disclosed in thepresent application it is necessary to use only one clamp-' ing rin and that the parts may be easily and quickly brought together and securely and'tightly fastened in place. Each form. 'includes'ther interengaging means on the sections at one end and the separate clamp at. the other end, and while this is shownas' applied to "a terminal box which has one I closed end, the invention is not necessarily limited to such a box since the interengaging lugs might be provided upon one of the open ends of a junction box.

While I have described the ring 10' and the groove in which it fits as. elliptical in form, it is to be understood that I do not use the term in its mathematical sense. and that it is intended to include surfaces having one diameter longer than another so that by turning, the interior short diameter of I the ring will bear upon the exterior long diameter of the groove and clamp the parts together.

The clamping ring may be made of spring steel so as to hold the parts in close engagebe understood that the engaging ment.

'It will flanges-serve not only to center the parts but also exclude dust and water.

vide efiective means for shedding dust, water or moisture which may collect on the device.

What I claim is: .1. The herein described box for electric wire conduits comprising a plurality of separable longitudinal sections, the, said'sections,

being adapted to form a' tubular conduit at The flanges,

being vertical it will be clear that they pro- 1 00 one end and having interlocking means at Mgtller end, and a locking means adapted 2. The Wire conduits comprising a plurality of separable longitudinal sections, the said sections being adapted to form a tubular conduit at one end and having interlocking-means at the other end adapted to be brought into operation by a slight longitudinal movement, and a locking means adapted to releasably secure the tubular ends togetherand to prevent relative longitudinal motien of the sections.

'3. The herein described box for electric.

gffBi-a leg securethe tubular ends to- 'therz- 1:; I

herein hi ri box for electric 4. The herein described box for electric wire conduits'comprising a plurality of separable longitudinal sections the said sections to be engaged or disengaged by slight longitudinal movement'of the sections, means cla'mpingthe other ends of the sections together, and inclined-shoulders on said sec-' tions adapted to interengage and to give the sections relative longitu inal motion to bring the lu 5 into close contact when the sections are rought. together.

5. The herein described box 'for electric wire conduits comprising two sections sepmeeting edges, and means for locking the other ends of said sections together.

6. A clamping means 'for a divided electric conduit box com rising a tubular portion of said box divi ed longitudinally and having anexterior elliptical in cross section,

and an elliptical ringadapted to freely fit said tubular portion and by turnin th reon to clamp the divided sections toget er, the

said ring having indicating means on it to show whenit is in its clamped position.

In testimony whereof I atfix mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

' JOHN E. GRAYBILL. Witnesses:

EDWARD J. LoUcKs ADA ALLISON. 

